Download from banned site may draw Rs 3 lakh fine

Clarity on the extent of the ban became imminent as initial reports suggested even merely looking a ‘torrent file’ or downloading a file from a host banned in the country could land one in trouble. 

The trigger for this report was a report in the IP law publication SpicyIP regarding an order from the Mumbai High Court while dealing with an anti-piracy application on behalf of the newly-released film Dishoom . According to the report, the order stated that instead of the standard message that is put up regularly on blocked websites, internet service providers should provide information about the provisions of the Copyright Act, which prescribe imprisonment for 3 years and also fine of upto Rs. 3,00,000/ under Sections 63, 63-A, 65 and 65-A of the Act on those visiting the banned sites. 

Experts have now said merely visiting a torrent site may not lead to imprisonment, but illegal downloads would.